Comments on: Nanoparticle Science Helps Create Low-Cost Water Purification Systemshttp://inhabitat.com/nanoparticle-science-helps-create-low-cost-water-purification-systems/
Green design & eco innovation for a better worldTue, 31 Mar 2015 17:05:17 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.1By: Decker Yeadon Creates Conductive Ink For Paper | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the Worldhttp://inhabitat.com/nanoparticle-science-helps-create-low-cost-water-purification-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-261157
Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:23:15 +0000http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=97172#comment-261157[...] is known for coming up with innovative and novel applications for advanced materials, including nano materials and even architectural Buckypaper. For their latest project, they made a nano solution that [...]
]]>By: chegdanhttp://inhabitat.com/nanoparticle-science-helps-create-low-cost-water-purification-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-217198
Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:25:22 +0000http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=97172#comment-217198@ Macrupton You are absolutely correct that nanoparticles can be produced by burning wood and heating metal. Not sure what nanoparticles are made industrially by burning wood, but heating of metal yes. All that CO2 produced in heating that furnace up to several hundred degrees counts as waste too, not to count all that work into purifying the metals you want to make into an aerosol. Chemical synthesis production of nanoparticles uses a lot of solvent during the process, all waste. You are right that without stating a nanoparticle specifically…this argument of e-factor changes. It does need to be taken into account with any discussion with nanparticles.

@austintexican I liked the video…I think I might try it. Making things like this using electrochem tend to be energy intensive. Hence why electrochemical industry are sometimes located next to their own personal hydroelectric dams or use wind power (much better) to give them the electrons they need to make this. Also, I would be that the silver that you would need to purify millions of gallons of water would eventually add up over time ($17/oz today)

I made the mistake of not reading the scientific article before posting. It doesn’t even use nanoparticles in the method to produce these filter, rather it uses a nanoporous structured aluminum membrane with Zinc or platinum coating or with no coating. The article discusses using these structures as a medical device for the most part. There are no numbers on how cheap it is…only a statement saying that its cheap. But remember, cheap for developed world is on a different scale entirely. To make these things on third world scale…it must be cheap on that scale, or have lots of money from the first world.

This is a meaningless statement as many nanoparticles are created as a byproduct of processes like burning wood or heating metal, and there are a limitless number of types. If the was talking about a specific particle it would have more meaning.

]]>By: austintexicanhttp://inhabitat.com/nanoparticle-science-helps-create-low-cost-water-purification-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-216836
Sun, 28 Mar 2010 20:41:04 +0000http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=97172#comment-216836In response to chegdan:
“chegdan Says:
March 23rd, 2010 at 2:10 pm
…. When we are talking about clean water for the developing world, these nanoparticles must be ridiculously cheap to manufacture”

]]>By: yatahhttp://inhabitat.com/nanoparticle-science-helps-create-low-cost-water-purification-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-216793
Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:30:14 +0000http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=97172#comment-216793Readers may also be ineterested in Tata Swach – A rice husk based nano water filer that is available for $20 in India. The product details are @ http://www.tataswach.com/
]]>By: chegdanhttp://inhabitat.com/nanoparticle-science-helps-create-low-cost-water-purification-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-215441
Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:10:38 +0000http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=97172#comment-215441Looking at the E-factor (kg waste/kg product) for nanoparticle production, its terrible. In fact, nanoparticle production is one of the most wasteful production methods we use (much worse than those used the oil and pharma industries). None of this technology is realizable until there is a safe, green, and efficient method of producing nanoparticles. Pharma uses nanoparticles because they are use to creating waste, making things expensive, and passing it onto the consumer. When we are talking about clean water for the developing world, these nanoparticles must be ridiculously cheap to manufacture.
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